Coin dispenser and solenoid lock therefor



April 29, 1958 J. F. LEACH com DISPENSER AND SOLENOID LOCK THEREFOR Filed Feb. 15, 1957 FIG. 5

lNVENTOR J. F. LEAC H ATTOR NEYS Unitrl; htates COIN DISPENSER AND SOLENOID LOCK THEREFOR Jennings F. Leach, .l'elferson City, Mo.

Application February 13, 1957, Serial No. 639,918

1 Claim. (Cl.133-5) of the coins, and specifically to a solenoid lock.

Prior electrically operated coin dispensers have been atent O complicated, required undue consciousness, concentration or attention in order to make them operate satisfactorily, were too dependent upon the human element for their successful operation, and did not prevent the possibility of loan or theft.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the difficulties enumerated and to provide a solenoid lock for a coin dispenser which requires no attention but will be activated or energized merely by turing the ignition key to the accessory side of the ignition switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solenoid lock for a coin dispenser, which lock is of the fewest and simplest parts and consequently of minimum cost, as well as a solenoid lock for a coin dispenser which can be readily applied to and connected to be operative only when the key is in the ignition switch of the automobile.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of an instrument panel with the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2, a perspective of a coin dispenser;

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7, a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a coin holder or container having a coin removal or dispensing slide with a recess of a size to accommodate or receive a single coin to be dispensed, a handle being provided for the manipulation of the coin slide when unlocked, and locking being accomplished by a locking pin projecting into an opening in the coin slide, such pin normally being held in locking position under spring pressure and being capable of being retractable from the opening in the coin slide by means of electrical impulses, such as for example by an electro-magnet or solenoid and such electrical energy being supplied only when the ignition switch is in accessory position, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of a coin when the ignition switch is in neutral position, to permit the key to be readily withdrawn, or when it is in ignition circuit closing position necessary for operation of the motor of the vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention a coin dispenser is provided comprising a cylinder 10 of an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the coins to be dispensed in order that such coins may lie flat one upon the other in said cylinder 10.

The cylinder is provided with a slot 11 so that the coins may be observed and in order that it may be deter mined when the cylinder is nearly empty. The upper end of the cylinder has a forward cut-away portion 12 to permit coins to be inserted one at a time flatwise into the top of the cylinder.

The cylinder 10 is mounted upon a base or support 13 of greater width than the diameter of the cylinder and has an upstanding flange 14 around its two sides and rear to which a housing 15 is adapted to be connected by screws 16, in order to form a cover for the base, and to contain the coin cylinder and other mechanism to be described. The lower front portion of the housing has a slot 17 registering with and corresponding in shape and size to the slot 11 in the coin cylinder to permit viewing of the contents of the cylinder and has an inlet or coin slot 18. in the upper edge of the housing above such inspection slot through which coin slot 18 coins may be inserted into the coin cylinder.

Removal of coins from the coin cylinder is accomplished by a coin slide 19 Having a manipulating fingerpiece or handle 20, and such coin slide is provided with a recess 21 for coins to be dispensed one at a time. Beneath the coin slide is located an underlying plate 22 having an opening 23 somewhat smaller in diameter so that when the slide 19 is pulled forward by the handle 20 a finger of the operator may be inserted from the underside into the opening 23 to raise the coin so that it may be removed. .The coin slide 19 may be made of.

two plates as shown secured together by spot weld 19' or may be made of a single piece of material.

The coin slide is normally retained beneath the base 13 in retracted position with the coin recess 21 directly beneath the coin cylinder and this is accomplished by means of a screw 24 fastened to such coin slide, such screw extending through a slot 25 in said base and having an opening 26 in which one end of a spring 27 is inserted, the other end of the spring being engaged with a tab 28 on the rear upstanding flange 14 of the base. Forward movement of the coin slide will tend to extend the spring 27 and when the slide is released it will be retracted by such spring.

In order to lock the coin slide in retracted non-dispensing position the slide 19 is provided with an opening 29 for the reception of a projection such as a locking pin 30, such pin being carried by a strip or locking bar 31, secured by a rivet or other fastener 32 to a resilient bracket 33 attached to a solenoid support 34 received upon the core 35 of a solenoid and held thereupon by means of a lockwasher 36 and a nut 37, such core 35 being surrounded by cores 38 to form a solenoid or electro magnet. The bar 31 has attached thereto an L-shaped bracket 39, the upper leg of which limits the movement of the bar 31. When the electro-magnet is energized, energy is supplied to the electro-magnet through a conductor 40, and in such conductor the se cessory position of the switch is interposed and is adapted to be operated by means of an ignition key 41, to energize the electro magnet or solenoid to withdraw the pin 30 from within the opening 29 in the coin slide to permit such coin slide to be pulled forwardly by the fingerpiece 20 until a coin can be extracted. When released, the spring 27 will retract the coin slide but upon again turning the ignition key to the accessory position the solenoid again will be energized to permit re moval of a coin such as for use in a parking meter or the like. When the ignition key is turned to a position other than the accessory or ignition positions, the solenoid will'be'moved'downwardly'into the opening '29 and prevent removal or dispensing of coins from the coin cylinder 10.

A slideway for the coinslide beneath the base 13 is provided by means of a bottom plate 42, such plate having upturned side flanges 43 and fastening-extensions 44 which extend upwardly through openings 45 in the base 13, and are bent over to fasten the plate 42 securely in position. In the eventthat the lowermost coin in the coin cylinder is worn or somewhat thinner than the depth of the recess 21, the next succeeding coin would tend to drop down into such recess and its rear edge would engage the rear portion of the recess and prevent the coin slide '19 from being drawn forward. In order to overcome this, the rear portion or the rear edge of the recess has "a beveled portion 21' sothat it will ride under the edge of the next succeeding coin.

In order to mount the device on the dash of an automobile or the like a mounting bracket is provided in the form of a pair of cooperative bracket members or sectors 46 and 47 having curved portions 48 and 49, which are curved reversely upon themselves, such brackets having slots 50 and 51, respectively in which are received fastening screws 52, which thread into a cross bar 53 on the underside of the cover or housing 15. Thus by loosening the screws 52 the reversely curved portions 48 and 49 of the brackets may be fitted about opposite edges of a support. An Allen screw 54 is mounted in the reversely turned portion 49 for adjustable engagement with a suitable support;

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art. that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and "described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

aeeaeee What is claimed is:

A coin dispenser comprising a closed housing, a cylinder mounted in said housing for receiving coins, openings in said housing and cylinder for the admission of coins, said housing having a fixed support plate underlying said cylinder, said support plate having an opening beneath the cylinder to permit coins to be discharged from the cylinder, a bottom plate fixedly connected to said housing and spaced beneath said support plate and underlying said cylinder thereby providing a slide receiving space between said support plate and said bottom plate, a slide mounted on said bottom plate between said support plate and said bottom plate, said slide being provided with a coin receiving recess for registry with said cylinder, means exteriorly of said housing and fixed to said slide for operating said slide, a locking bar above said support plate, means supporting the locking bar at one end and resiliently urging the other end of thelocking bar toward the support plate, a projection on said .otherend of said locking bar, registering apertures in saidsupport plate and in said slide in which the projection may extend, means to movably mount said bar for movement whereby the projection may be removed from-said apertures, a solenoid mounted in said housing above said bar for moving said bar and thereby withdrawing said projection from said apertures whereby the ,slide'may be movably operated to dispense .a coin, electric circuit means for energizing said solenoid, said barbeing released I upon de-energization of the solenoid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,746,398 Khalil Feb. 11, 1,930 2,435,666 Wong Feb. 10, v1948 2,600,026 Schlabach June 10, 1 952 2,800,360 Jenkins July 23, 1-957 

